The numbers of Covid-19 patients being admitted to hospital in French Polynesia is continuing to fall.
Medical services are stretched because of a rapid spread of Covid-19 Photo: FB French High Commission in French Polynesia
Local media reports 162 people are in hospital, which is down from 185 the previous day.
Of those, 30 are in intensive care, a drop of two.
There have been a further three deaths, taking the number of fatalities due to Covid to 602.
151,333 now have a first vaccination with 136,159 having had a second.
Post-covid treatment
Some health care workers in French Polynesia are now focussing on post-covid convalescence.
This work is the main objective of the Te Ora Ora centre.
Le Premier Polynesie website reported a major goal is to re-educate a covid sufferer's respiratory system.
It quoted physiotherapist Clement Villeneuve, "we know that in post-covid, especially in patients who have undergone resuscitation, there is astonishment of the diaphragm, the muscle of respiration. And our work begins there, re-educating the diaphragm," she said.
Another consideration is the impact of the disease on taste and appetite.
Te Ora Ora centre has patients consult with a dietician. "We will look at the weight loss that there has been since the hospitalization, to see if there is malnutrition or not. And also in relation to the blood test, " said dietician Hélène Pocard.
The rehabilitation process can take up to two months.
The website reports the centre receives about 30 patients per day, half of whom are so-called long covid patients.